Chapter 1008: The Interests of the Immortal Sect and the Interests of the Nine Spirit Domain Must Align

"This… what should we do?"

Yan Liu Di Zi could no longer maintain his composure or the bearing of an Imperial Son, and blurted out in panic.

Mo Shan lowered his head, unable to answer.

In his life, he had learned how to flatter his master, how to manage the many minor realms, how to keep himself loyal at all times — as for strategy in these star-domain wars, he truly was not skilled.

Millions of troops surged forward in a sweeping advance.

Against such a magnificent, overwhelming momentum, who could stop it?

"Imperial Son, let us retreat."

Chen Shan Wang stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "We cannot win a frontal fight; this is not our advantage. However, that does not mean we have no advantage at all."

"That is, greater individual strength!"

"If we can stall for a time, achieve some results, and gain some room to maneuver — combined with your identity as an Imperial Son of the Yan Shi clan — it will not be hard to win back the loyalty of the many kings and the clan's cultivators."

"Retreating for a time is not defeat, nor is it shameful. Throughout the ages, how many Great Emperors carved their path through hardship and setback, not through unbroken victory? Even true dragons must sometimes lie hidden, awaiting the right moment."

Jiang Ding's heart gave a slight note of approval.

After ruling the Jiao Mo Di clan's domains for so many years, they had still not rotted from within; the clan's kings still possessed sufficient military strategy and wits, and their strength was not lacking — no weaker than Taiyi Qingmu Xianzong's Soul Transformation — truly rare.

This was an opponent not to be underestimated.

"This…"

Yan Liu Di Zi was still hesitating.

He was simply too young, had never endured the days of a wretched, harried flight, and cared too much about so-called face and glory — hence his wavering. Until he hit true desperation, he would not let go of that lucky-break mindset.

This was the flaw of those born powerful.

Being born powerful meant a lack of tempering. While heaven granted them great strength, it stripped away their suffering, stripped away the chance for true trials.

Only by passing through real blood and fire could one become truly strong.

This was the purpose behind the Jiao Mo Di ancestors' design of the Imperial Son's War. A race with a long lineage has no real weak points; many seemingly harsh rules carry profound meaning.

This is also why many Great Emperors and Ancient Emperors, even when they had the chance to tear up the constraints of the Imperial Son's War, still recognized these rules — even if their own heirs had to die because of them.

They knew well that in this cruel realm of domains, certain trials were necessary and could not be avoided.

Otherwise, one would be a true good-for-nothing, unable to stand in the starry sky.

"Should we resist for a moment, then withdraw? A panicked retreat like this might make the many kings and our clan's cultivators look down on us, which would not help the next stage of rallying them…"

Yan Liu Di Zi was still hesitating, though what he said did have some reason to it.

"Imperial Son… sigh

??"

Chen Shan Wang, frustrated that iron could not become steel: "Those fair-weather followers only move for profit — what matter if they look down on us?"

He knew the young Imperial Son would ultimately withdraw; he was just hesitating — this was the inherent softness of the young, their lack of decisiveness.

But the unknown risks were only growing!

Chen Shan Wang swept his gaze around.

Yan Hua Di Nü was dazed and clueless. Long ago, after she showed no talent for struggle, the Great Emperor had given up on cultivating her with any focus.

Mo Shan looked even more like a man who would only follow the Imperial Son's orders.

"Dong Xue He Wang!"

Chen Shan Wang barked coldly.

Among so many, the one who did not fear Yan Liu Di Zi and kept his head clear was this king of the slave race.

A king of the slave race who had fought his way up from the bottom was unlikely to have any great weak points — because without the clan's protection, those with too great a flaw were already dead, perished in some unknown corner.

"Imperial Son,"

"Waging war among great armies is not my forte. I shall take my leave first; please take care of yourself."

The strikingly handsome, eerily beautiful Daoist in a blood-red robe, hair white as snow, bowed slightly: "If you can survive, within ten-odd to several-dozen years I should be able to bring you the head of the Cang Kong Imperial Son's Guard King you desire."

"May the ancient gods protect you."

"May you in the future obtain your Imperial Son's crown."

The blood-robed Daoist was not asking for anything. Once his words were done, his blood-colored escape light shifted, and he flew toward the distant horizon, quickly vanishing from sight.

"You!"

"Dong Xue He Wang!"

Yan Liu Di Zi was both shocked and furious, roaring out loud.

"That damned servant!"

"That damned lowborn cur!"

"When I become Emperor, I will surely…"

His words broke off; he swallowed the rest, his face flushed crimson — clearly driven to the peak of rage.

"Imperial Son."

"This man is untamed and arrogant, but what he did was right."

Chen Shan Wang said solemnly: "In struggle, in slaughter, one must be decisive at the decisive moment — not a shred of hesitation. In the present situation, if we fight head-on, defeat is certain."

"It is only a momentary concession."

"As long as we ultimately win — Imperial Son, I pledge to you — you will lose no glory, no face. Throughout the domains they will sing of your profound wisdom, your earth-shaking strategy; it may even become a legend the clan's cultivators love to recount, leaving your name in the clan's history."

"The victor is always right, always glorious."

"As for this servant — if he can ascend to become a Great Emperor of the slave race, I suspect even after you ascend to Great Emperor you would be reluctant to kill him. So long as he is useful, some flaws, some arrogance, are only to be expected."

Chen Shan Wang was smoothing things over.

The birds were not yet gone, the cunning rabbit not yet

Dying now and saying all this — truly too lacking in experience.

"Dong Xue He Wang…"

Boom!

Yan Liu Di Zi slammed his flame great halberd hard into the ground, smashing out a bottomless great pit that formed magma glaze, and said hatefully.

……

Far, far away from Hua Yun Xiao Gao Jie, in an unknown place within Mo Shi Xiao Gao Jie, within the soul of an unknown being, Jiang Ding's main body withdrew his gaze.

"Those born powerful are, in many respects, quite immature…"

Jiang Ding Zi murmured.

This was a point that could be exploited, and he firmly noted it in his heart.

At the same time, a wisp of divine sense plunged deep into the soul void realm.

In an instant, nine cold gazes were cast this way.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Jiang Ding swept a glance at them, utterly unconcerned, and said: "Next, Yan Shi Xing Yu will fall into chaos. You may begin preparing the array formations now — don't make a mistake."

"Number Ten!"

"This… is not what was said before. It completely violates our plan of lying low and developing in secret."

Tian Ji Dao Zi's voice carried anger.

For the identity of Dong Xue He Wang to do such a thing was far too brazen — it instantly raised their risk by a notch, completely disregarding the bigger picture!

Once Yan Shi Da Di chose to abandon Yan Liu Di Zi and killed Dong Xue He Wang with a single palm, he might notice some clues and arouse some suspicion.

"No choice."

"Who told you lot you were incompetent and failed on your own?"

"I was forced into it."

Jiang Ding said coldly: "Under such a crushing defeat, we had to take an unorthodox path — only that way could we stop Yan Liu Di Zi's enormous disadvantage. And judging by results, it succeeded."

"With your ability, was there really no other, more covert method?"

Tian Ji Dao Zi asked coldly.

"No."

"Really none."

Jiang Ding said decisively.

Perhaps there was, but it would certainly be a method that did not align with maximizing the immortal sect's interests.

The immortal sect's interests and the Nine Spirit Domain's interests must overlap to a high degree — that was the path he walked.

Both had to exist simultaneously.

For that, slightly increasing some risk was worth it.